Forbidden Fruit: The Tiny Volkswagen Ameo Is Built in and for India

volkswagen-ameo rear quarter

Assembled at the Chakan facility, near Pune, India, the diminutive Volkswagen Ameo is based on the Volkswagen Polo’s PQ25 platform. In fact, up to the B-pillar, the Volkswagen Ameo is the same as the Volkswagen Polo hatchback. Why is this little car significant to Volkswagen fans in the United States? There is a huge Volkswagen fan-base that wants the Polo to come to North America. The Volkswagen Ameo should appeal to a few VW Polo fanboys.

Equipped with a 3-cylinder, 1.2-liter, 74 (bhp) gas that makes approximately 81 pound-feet of torque, the gas model has a five-speed manual transmission standard. The 1.5-liter, 4-cylinder TDI diesel engine comes with a 7-speed DSG automatic transmission. While the TDI’s output numbers have yet to be officially released, it is expected to make around 88 horsepower and approximately 170 pounds-feet of torque.

volkswagen-ameo int

Volkswagen states that the Ameo — when compared with the competition — will have higher quality components, higher levels of safety and a higher-end overall feel. Considering the well received Volkswagen Polo, there is no reason to expect the VW Ameo to be anything less than a success.

So, would we be happy to drive one of these vehicles on this side of the planet? Why not? The tiny car segment in North America is, well – tiny. There are only a handful of automakers selling cars under four meters/yards long. Who knows?

volkswagen-ameo front quarter

Prices are expected to start at 550,000.00 INR (about $8,250) to 800,000.00 INR which is about $12,000.00. While that is remarkably inexpensive from our perspective, it’s pretty pricey in India. Basic Indian The Polaris/Eicher Motors Multix Mini Truck like the Tata Nano and for the Mahindra KUV100 run between (approximately) $3,000 and $7,000.

Speaking of small cars in the United States…


In India, the Volkswagen Ameo is currently traveling to 17 cities as it is officially released.

Those cities and dates:

Pune
12th May, Thursday

Surat
14th May – Saturday

Ahmedabad
16th May – Monday

Nagpur
18th May – Wednesday

Delhi
20th May – Friday

Ludhiana
22nd May – Sunday

Jaipur
24th May – Tuesday

Chandigarh
24th May – Tuesday

Lucknow
29th May – Sunday

Kolkata
4th June – Saturday

Bhubaneswar
7th June – Tuesday

Hyderabad
12th June – Sunday

Chennai
16th June – Thursday

Bangalore
19th June – Sunday

Coimbatore
22nd June -Wednesday

Cochin
24th June – Friday

Mumbai
2nd July – Saturday